Chapter 2

Charles snapped his head around, startled.

But I didn't stop. My foot kept sliding higher, deliberately teasing him.

Charles shot to his feet. "Forget it. We're done here."

He slammed the door on his way out. Edward left with Sophie.

I resigned myself to going home alone, but spotted Charles leaning against his car, smoking.

"Ms. Foster, what was that supposed to mean?" he asked.

I looked at him earnestly. "I'm trying to learn how to make friends."

He nearly choked on his cigarette. "That's how you make friends?"

I tried to remember how Edward acted with those women. Then I went up on my toes, wrapped my arms around Charles' neck, and kissed him.

His eyes went wide. The second he processed what was happening, he shoved me away.

He glared. "Are you insane? Does Edward know you're like this?"

I felt hurt, confused why he was so angry. "But that's how Edward makes friends."

Charles' ears turned bright red. He muttered through clenched teeth, "You're all out of your minds."

He got in his car and drove off.

I felt a little defeated. Maybe I really was hopeless at this.

But then Charles came back.

"Just doing a good deed. I'll drive you home, but don't get any ideas about me again," he said.

I nodded, disappointed. "Alright."

When I got home, designer shirts and lingerie were strewn all over the floor.

I slipped into the guest room and messaged Edward's mother, Nancy Grant.

[Nancy, if I could love someone, and someone loved me, could I get a divorce?]

My mom died when I was six, protecting Nancy. The trauma left me emotionally numb.

Nancy, drowning in guilt, forced Edward and me to stay married—her way of "taking care" of me.

I knew Edward resented it.

Nancy didn't respond. But the next morning, Edward was even worse.

"Claire, you got my mom to force me into marrying you, and now I can't even have fun?

"You really think just because you manipulated her, I'm gonna make this work?"

I panicked. "No, I didn't. That's not true."

He shoved me away, disgusted. "Sophie's moving in. I can't stand being away from her."

Edward threw cash at my feet without looking at me. "Go buy condoms. We're out."

My face burned as I crouched down, picking up the bills one by one, folding them carefully, utterly humiliated.

"Okay. I'll get them."

After coming back, I forced myself not to cry as I handed the condoms to Sophie.

Edward's face darkened. Suddenly, he snatched the box and hurled it at me, hitting me in the face.

"Changed my mind. You're an idiot, so any kid you'd have would be an idiot too. Sophie can give me a child instead."

Sophie blushed. "Edward, I want to."

The box left a scratch on my face. I covered it awkwardly, humiliated.

"That's good," I said.

Edward smirked. "Yeah, good. I might've married an idiot, but who else has a wife this 'generous'?

"Sophie wants to swim. You're the host—go supervise."

When Sophie finished swimming, she looked upset. "Edward, the ring you gave me... I think I lost it."

I blinked, confused. A ring? Edward never gave me one when we got married.

Edward didn't even glance at me. "Claire, find Sophie's ring."

My chest tightened as I walked around the pool. "I can't find it."

Edward stared coldly. "There are bushes everywhere. Can't you check them?"

I froze, then ended up on my knees in the tangled weeds.

My shins and arms got all scratched up by the brambles.

After two hours, I still couldn't find it. "It's really not here."

Edward sneered, "Then get in the pool."

My blood ran cold.

Edward was doing this on purpose. He knew I was terrified of water.

My mom drowned in a rafting accident. Now, the moment I was near water, I couldn't breathe.